Methods :
Partially limbal stem cell deficiency animal model were set up using alike burn method. Immediately after burn, either LNC or BMMSC cells were injected subconjunctivally. The score of ocular surface health including the epithelial cell defect, new blood vessel ingrowth and print cell cytometry were tested and quantified, the difference between groups were compared. The expression of stem cell factor (SCF) in LNC and BMMSC cells were examined using western blot and ELISA kit.

Results :
One and three months after alike burn, both LNC and BMMSC have reduced extent of rabbit LSCD, while the epithelial cell defect area, new blood vessel ingrowth and goblet density in LNC group were less that in BMMSC group (P＜0.05). The expression of SCF in LNC were high than that of BMMSC cells (P＜0.05).

Conclusions :
These findings indicating that subconjunctivally transplanted LNC could prevent LSCD better than BMMSC after alike burn, the difference of SCF between them may serve as one of the mechanism.

This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2016 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, Wash., May 1-5, 2016.